Spelling bee hopeful plans to try again

For Chester County’s Jacob George, while unable to move into Scripps’ National Spelling Bee semifinals, next year brings the promise of a better run.

George was the winner of the Chester County Spelling Bee in February, which qualified him for the national competition that was held in Washington, D.C. at the end of May.

“It was tough,” said George, a seventh-grader at St. Norbert School in Paoli. “It was nerve wracking. People are watching you.”

George was one of 281 spellers competing in this year’s spelling bee. The competition began with a preliminary computer-based test, then preliminary rounds two and three. Another computer-based test was held prior to the semifinals, which were followed by the championship finals.

George was eliminated in the second computer-based test, which required contestants to questions not only for spelling but also pertaining to vocabulary.

George, who saves his verbosity for the spelling stage, said that he will compete again next year and is already studying harder than before.

He added that although he lost this year, he learned many new words, including his new favorite, ptyalagogue, an agent that promotes the flow of saliva.

The national spelling bee is one of the nation’s largest and longest-running educational promotional program, aimed at encouraging students to improve their spelling and vocabularies.

The Chester County Spelling Bee is hosted every year by the Chester County Intermediate Unit and is open to all students enrolled in a county public, private, parochial or home school, through the eighth grade, who meet Scripps’ requirements for participation.